Monday, January 23, 2012

Avoiding flame retardants ... not as easy as it should be!

I caught a great article on Healthy Child Healthy World about the chemical Tris, which was voluntarily removed from kids' pajamas in the 1970s because it was found to cause cancer. Guess what? It's still around. A recent study found that 16 out of 20 new baby and children's products tested positive for chlorinated Tris (TDCPP).

These findings echoed a 2011 Berkeley study which found Tris in 36% of 101 products tested. Need more convincing? "According to the Berkeley study, Americans have 20 times higher blood levels of PBDEs than in Europe [sic]; these chemicals are linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, lower testosterone in men, neurological disorders in children and reduced fertility in women." Very disturbing.

Pressure your state representatives to consider chemical reform legislation, like that making its way through the Washington State Congress: The Toxic-Free Kids Act would ban the use of Tris in children’s products beginning in 2014 and discourage manufacturers from replacing one toxic flame retardant with another by requiring them to conduct thorough health and safety assessment of potential alternatives.